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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

I cannot carry a tune to save my life. But I do love Christmas Carols! O Holy Night! Do You Hear What I Hear! Here We Come A Wassailing, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, White Christmas, well, you get the picture. A radio station in our area starts playing the songs at Thanksgiving. Non-stop.

Monday, December 13, 2010

This year Christmas will be changed - drastically. Jayme and Ben are in a home of their own and now it is just me in this big, rambling house. My sweet sister has gone to live with our Lord and her non-presence will be felt heavily. We have a new addition to the family - Jacob.

Christmas preparations this year have been slow. I’ve turned on the outside lights. I’ll put up a few decorations, maybe a wreath on the door, a few Christmas pictures.

Bossman took me to Braddocks this evening. Good food, good drinks, great fun. Emphasis on fun. Then we went to my place. It snowed this evening making the streets rather hazardous. But he texted me when he arrived safely home. Can you say C-O-N-T-E-N-T!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Lazy, rainy, lovely Sunday. Lots to do. Need to write out party invites and Christmas cards. Gather donations for VA pick up. Scrap a new album, clean my room, laundry, and workout. Whew! No more lazing about, got work to do. And a huge shout out to Mister for a most spectacular birthday. You are amazing! He is so amazing that he came over this evening - said a birthday is all weekend. Baked him chocolate chip cookies. We napped. He is lovely!

Now for Christmas Past:

My parents were awesome. My Dad worked at Sears and whenever the catalog came out, my sister, brother and I would write out our lists. I am sure we got everything on our lists. During our baths on Christmas Eve, one of Santa's elves would ring our doorbell and leave new p.j.s. My folks hosted a Christmas Eve party for many years. Christmas Day was spent like this: wake up brother and get him to wake up parents, open gifts, dress, go to Grandma D's for breakfast, Nana's for lunch and Grampa's for dinner, then finally, back home. We never got to play with our gifts until the 26th. But our Christmases were always filled with excitement!

How appropriate that today is about the Christmas Tree because I put up the tree. Mom came and we decorated. Amanda and Kay joined us. We had breakfast/lunch at IHOPS. Did some shopping. Talked to Mister twice. Relaxed.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

This year, since we have Christmas Eve off, I am having a lunch for the whole family, good food, comfort, lots of presents! Christmas Day this year, I plan to spend quietly with my Mom and Dad, Melissa and Mike.

Kayla and I did carry on with our newest tradition - the two of us going to town to see the Macy windows, the Santas Around the World display and the Gingerbread Houses. This year we also went to the movies. This weekend, Mom, Mandy, Kayla and I will start wrapping and baking. I plan to send out my party invites and Christmas cards. I will, as I do every year, pull out all the Christmas movies and pull all the Christmas themed books from their shelves and stack them for night-time reading.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Grocery list, cleaning list, gift certificate list, card list, gifts bought list, gifts to buy list. Lists! Lists! Lists! I love lists! I love creating them. Every year I create a master gift list. I can tell you what each child received last year and the year before that and probably the year before that.

Monday, December 6, 2010

There are only two Christmases that stand out as being not so good. One was when I was younger and found the gifts in a closet. I looked at them all and when Christmas morning rolled around, I was so disappointed in myself as I already knew what I was getting and the excitement and anticipation was not there. I NEVER looked again! The other Christmas was when I was older and had three small children. I made the fatal mistake of counting on a Christmas bonus to buy the childrens' gifts and Christmas dinner. I learned that year what I should have known all along, that bonuses were optional and should not be counted on. Everything turned out as the office manager made an accounting error and it was found right way so that we all got our bonuses, but it was scary there for a while. Christmas since has always been paid for way before receiving any bonuses. As for the good - with the exception of those two, I have had 51 grand Christmases!!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Before the flood, Kayla and I would unpack our little Reindeer Chalkboard and hang it in the kitchen, and we would count down each day. The excitement grew as we get closer to Christmas! This year, all the kiddies are moved into their own homes and I have yet to replace the reindeer. Maybe this weekend I'll do a bit of shopping.

Been looking so forward to this party that Theresa has hosted at least 18 years now (maybe more).

Also put the Christmas lights on the outside of house - so pretty. Need to work on the inside.

My sweet Mister gave me my birthday present early - UGGs! Just in time, too, as it was snowing earlier.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

My perfect Christmas as always would be a log cabin in the woods. It would have a huge family room with an oversized stone fireplace. Plenty of firewood outside the front door. There would be snow falling, plenty for sled-riding and snowman building. We'd have a real tree, decorated beautifully and smelling wonderful. All of my children and grandchildren would be there and everyone would get along. We would pop popcorn, make Old Fashioned Hot Chocolate, play board games, watch a seasonal favorite, "A Christmas Story", sing carols and just be happy together. {Sigh}

Today, we are celebrating Brendan's 3rd birthday today. He will officially be 3 on Monday. But first, Mom and I are going to breakfast and then light shopping. After the party, I am driving into the office to get some filing done. I may have to stop in at Starbuck's on my way home.

Friday, December 3, 2010

I have two favorite places to purchase Christmas cards, Barnes & Nobles and Hallmark. One year, Amanda, Kayla and I made our own cards using a kit we purchased at clearance from Michael's Arts & Crafts. That was fun and the cards were lovely and well received. This year I am sending this card:

Thursday, December 2, 2010

It's cold today. Though we have been lucky these past months with bouts of tropical weather, winter weather is now making its mark. It is currently 28º. I woke up to a dusting of snow on the cars and the lawns. I would love to have an all out white Christmas. I am so looking forward to that first real Christmas snow, not just flurries, but the one that covers everything with pure whiteness, making our little world a wondrous winter wonderland.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

It is Day One of Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas. Writing the Manifesto. I've fashioned mine after a past JYC. This is what will go in my album this year:

Manifesto

I dedicate the documenting of this Christmas Season to my Grandchildren Kayla, Cammi, Ben, Jade, Brendan and Jacob. Without them, Christmas would not be so magical, exciting, wondrous, or awe-filled. I will, this Christmas Season, reflect on Christmases past, ponder Christmases future, and create the most perfect Christmas present. I will share the joys of this Season with my family and friends through smiles, gifts, food, and kindness.

Today started out gray and rainy as it has been most of the past week. The rain turned to snow flurries and the temperatures dropped. When I went out at noon, it was 30 degrees. I am happy to be home in my warm, cozy home.

Today is also the start of Erin Effenheim's Pre New Year Fitness Challenge. I met Erin on Facebook and joined her last challenge which helped me towards my weight loss goal. This is perfect timing for me as I hope to wear a two piece, oh alright, a bikini, in Florida come February.

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